I’ve had more time to post the last few days but have found other things to do. I took off work Friday and today - the first time I’ve taken off more than 1 day at a time this year, and haven’t really felt like sitting down to type anything. However, I’ve several things lined up now that I’ll probably post about over the next couple of days.

I’ve done a little reading and managed to finish Don Miller’s book To Own A Dragon. I enjoyed it, as I usually do Miller’s books, but this one didn’t quite hit me the same as Blue Like Jazz or Searching For God Knows What. I’m not sure why. Perhaps the subject matter - growing up without a father, which I did not do - but I don’t think it was that. It may have been me not being in the right frame of mind for it. Sometimes I read a book (or maybe just start a book) and it doesn’t do much for me, but later I’ll finish it or read it again and I love it. It’s also possible that I read through it too fast, as I occasionally do. Nevertheless, it’s still a good book worth reading and if you like his other stuff, you’re sure to like this one as well.  There’s some good stuff in there.

I’m also continuing to read through Craig Borlase’s book God’s Gravity, taking it a little slower. I read this passage this morning and wanted to share, as he is discussing Matthew 25:

It’s all about the sheep and the goats. After Jesus was done encouraging His disciples to open their eyes and see the bigger picture, to treat every day as one that counted and not to slack in their faith, He got a little agricultural. He described God’s final judgment like the separation of sheep and goats by the shepherd. They - we - will be put into one of two groups. Those on one side will be welcomed, while those on the other will not. Instead, “they will go away to eternal punishment.” (Matt. 25:46)

There should be an obvious question forming in a brain cell near you right now, one that asks something like “How do we get on the right side?” There might be an answer kicking about there too, one that goes along the lines of “If you’ve signed up already, you’re in.” And that’s where it all gets a little bit tricky. You see, according to Matthew’s retelling of Jesus’ story, the sole criterion to spending eternity with God is this: responsibility. Did the people feed the poor, befriend the stranger, clothe the naked, help the sick, or support the oppressed? If so, they made it through. If not…they didn’t.

According to Jesus’ story, what God wants is to see us looking beyond ourselves, noticing and responding to the needs of others. And not just any old set of “others” - not just the nice pretty ones who might be able to get us some kind of promotion or recognition if we treat them right - but the other sort of others. The least. The lost. The last. The outsiders. The outcasts. The wrong people. The sort of individuals from whom our cozy lives continually keep us insulated. They are the ones we must care for. They are the people God’s gravity draws us toward.

It’s strong stuff, isn’t it? Does it leave you feeling a little nervous? Does it leave you with doubts about how your lifestyle matches up? It does for me. And I think that’s Just the way God likes us - feeling uncomfortable at the thought that this small world into which we are tempted to retreat will really do us no good at all.